WOMEN and children trying to illegally enter the US from Mexico could be separated at the border under a new proposal under consideration by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), government officials have claimed.

In a bid to deter families from making the dangerous crossing, the new proposal would allow the government to keep the parents in custody while their children would be placed in the care of the Department of Health and Human Services until they can be taken into the care of a US relative or state-sponsored guardian.

The tough new plans come after President Trump called for an end to the “catch and release” style detention system currently in use, where families contesting deportation or applying for asylum are often quickly released from detention and allowed to remain in the US while their cases are ongoing.

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If proposals go ahead, families trying to enter the US could be separated

A spokesperson for the department said: "The journey north is a dangerous one with too many situations where children - brought by parents, relatives or smugglers - are often exploited, abused or may even lose their lives.

"With safety in mind, the Department of Homeland Security continually explores options that may discourage those from even beginning the journey.”

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Marielena Hincapie, executive director at the National Immigration Law Centre, said the new policy could result in “lifelong psychological trauma” especially for “children that have just completed a perilous journey from Central America."

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Between October 1 last year and January 31 2017, around 54,000 children and their guardians were apprehended after trying to get into the US – more than double the number caught over the same time period a year earlier.

Trump’s plan to build a border wall was a key pledge during his campaign and the new President shows no signs of failing to deliver on his promise.